Sea buckthorn is a nutrient-rich plant known as a "vitamin treasure house." It contains vitamin C, flavonoids, fatty acids, and other bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and heart-protective benefits. Research suggests it may help reduce oxidative stress, support lipid metabolism, and protect the liver. Beyond health applications, it also helps with soil improvement and desert control. Due to growing demand for natural ingredients, sea buckthorn is now widely used in dietary supplements, functional foods, and cosmetics. This summary reviews its nutritional profile, potential health effects, and market uses, highlighting the value of this versatile golden fruit.
Nature has created many plants with remarkable survival abilities, and some of them have developed unique nutritional profiles while adapting to harsh environments. With its clustered growth pattern, twisted branches resembling dragons and snakes, and fruits that transition from emerald green when immature to orange-yellow and scarlet when ripe, sea buckthorn is one such extraordinary plant.
Beyond its ecological significance as a pioneer species for soil improvement, wind prevention, desertification control, and water conservation, sea buckthorn is also considered a promising fruit resource due to its potential roles in supporting human health, enhancing nutritional intake, and promoting metabolic balance.
Sea Buckthorn — A Treasure House of Vitamins
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), also known as vinegar willow or sour thorn, belongs to the genus Hippophae in the family Elaeagnaceae. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree widely distributed across temperate and cold regions of Eurasia. The root system of sea buckthorn can extend to depths of up to 5 meters, allowing it to survive in desert environments with annual precipitation as low as 200 mm. Its strong tolerance to low temperatures also makes it an excellent plant species for windbreaks and sand fixation.
Sea buckthorn has a long history of medicinal use in China and has traditionally been used as a medicinal herb among Mongolian and Tibetan communities.
Modern botanical research has shown that sea buckthorn fruit contains an exceptionally high level of vitamin C. The vitamin C content of 100 grams of sea buckthorn fruit (275 mg) is significantly higher than that found in the same amount of mango (27.7 mg), apricot (10 mg), banana (8.7 mg), orange (50 mg), and peach (6.6 mg).
In addition to vitamin C, sea buckthorn contains vitamin A, vitamin E, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Furthermore, it is rich in polysaccharides (including glucose, fructose, and mannitol), organic acids (such as quinic acid and L-malic acid), amino acids (including threonine and valine), carotenoids (which give sea buckthorn its characteristic orange-yellow color), phenolic acids (such as gallic acid), flavonoids, and phytosterols.
Although the fruit of sea buckthorn is small in size, its exceptionally high vitamin content and diverse bioactive compounds have earned it the reputation of being a “vitamin treasure house” and a “natural nutritional complex.”
Multiple Health Benefits of Sea Buckthorn
Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols, fatty acids, and phytosterols. These bioactive components contribute to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, while also providing potential benefits for cardiovascular protection, neurological health, and liver function.
Antioxidant Effects
Phenolic compounds in sea buckthorn fruits have been reported to inhibit plasma lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or H₂O₂/Fe stimulation.
In addition, sea buckthorn leaf extracts have been shown to reduce intracellular oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner, thereby increasing neuronal PC-12 cell viability and maintaining membrane integrity.
Multiple studies related to cardiovascular diseases have indicated that sea buckthorn fruits may help reduce blood cholesterol levels and decrease inflammation and oxidative stress-related parameters. Sea buckthorn seed oil has also been reported to inhibit oxidative-reduction imbalance in skin cells caused by ultraviolet (UV) exposure.
Neuroprotective Effects
The accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are considered important factors involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Sea buckthorn has been shown to help remove intracellular Aβ deposits, with sea buckthorn powder at a concentration of 1.5 g/mL demonstrating the strongest effect in one study. This finding may be attributed to the high antioxidant content found in sea buckthorn fruit powder.
Antioxidants may inhibit Aβ-induced toxicity and prevent cell death by exerting neuroprotective effects. These findings suggest that sea buckthorn may have potential as a therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer’s disease.
Another study showed that flavonoids from sea buckthorn stimulated insulin receptor substrate (IRS)/AKT activation, reduced protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) expression, and normalized insulin signaling pathways, neurogenic injury pathways, and ERK/CREB/BDNF signaling pathways.
Sea buckthorn flavonoids may inhibit insulin resistance and neuroinflammation, alleviate cognitive impairment caused by a high-fat diet, and effectively prevent memory decline.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
Sea buckthorn has been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
Sea buckthorn leaf extracts have demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation by inhibiting the expression of nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), while reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Sea buckthorn has been shown to inhibit the expression of IκB kinase α/β (IKKα/β), inhibitor of κBα (I-κBα), NF-κB p65, iNOS, and COX-2, as well as reduce the activity of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), thereby suppressing LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells.
The anti-inflammatory activity of sea buckthorn may be attributed to ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, citric acid derivatives, and flavonoids. Its anti-inflammatory mechanisms may involve the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, as well as the reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators such as NF-κB, iNOS, and COX-2.
Hepatoprotective Effects
Carotenoids in sea buckthorn, including β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and β-cryptoxanthin, exhibit hepatoprotective activity by reducing oxidative stress and regulating lipid metabolism in liver cells.
The improvement effects of sea buckthorn on liver health have even been reported to be superior to those of curcumin in some studies. Research has found that active components in sea buckthorn can inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells in a dose-dependent manner, reduce inflammatory cytokine levels, and delay the progression of fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats.
Therefore, sea buckthorn may help alleviate liver injury and inflammation, while contributing to the restoration of liver function.
Applications of Sea Buckthorn in the Cosmetics Market
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global sea buckthorn market size reached USD 381.4 million in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 419.08 million in 2025 to USD 837.26 million by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.39% during the forecast period.
Currently, sea buckthorn’s unique active compounds allow it to be used not only as an ingredient for internal health support but also in external applications for skincare and haircare. Due to its exceptional nutritional value and diverse bioactive components, sea buckthorn has even been described as “plant gold” by some high-end cosmetic brands.
Today, with its outstanding nutrient density and ecological adaptability, sea buckthorn has become a representative ingredient that combines the health industry with sustainable development.
As scientific research continues to advance, the value of this “golden fruit” is expected to be further explored and expanded.
References
[1] Zhen Wang, Fenglan Zhao, Panpan Wei, Xiaoyun Chai, Guige Hou, Qingguo Meng.Phytochemistry, health benefits, and food applications of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.): A comprehensive review. Front Nutr. 2022 Dec 6;9:1036295. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1036295.
[2] Anca-Mihaela Gâtlan, Gheorghe Gutt.
Sea Buckthorn in Plant Based Diets. An Analytical Approach of Sea Buckthorn Fruits Composition: Nutritional Value, Applications, and Health Benefits. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 26;18(17):8986. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18178986.
[3] Fortune Business Insights. Sea Buckthorn Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/sea-buckthorn-market-103197